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E90/E91/E92/E93 (2006 - 2013) The E9X is the 4th evolution of the BMW 3 series including a highly tuned twin turbo 335i variant pushing out 300hp and 300 ft. lbs. of torque. BMW continues to show that it sets the bar for true driving performance! -- View the E9X Wiki

Making the same choice and going"IS" Difference is going brand new on both and not interested in paying a guzzle tax coupled with higher insurance and frequenting the pump besides next generation M will be turbo so if that's the issue..Remember the M3 comes out of the gate with NRF's..Me like.Also new means warranty & used M's do not(CPO included) Good luck and can't lose.

The 335is feels more nimble and lighter to me when driving curvy roads and going through tight corners, plus the power band is tight there for recovery through the turns. The M3 convertible was heavier in the front end and felt like it was plowing in tight corners.

The M3 handles curves noticeably better than the 335is. Minimal body roll (compared to my 911 that has virtually none) and you always feel in control. I sometimes feel like the 335is is going to give away through curves.

Tell ya what - after much wrenchin' on my suspension, I got neutral handling with no limit found yet. Not tracked!

I don't agree what about over boost? What about a 5k investment in parts and you can see the M in the rear view mirror! And who ended up paying less?

Let's get the juvenile "what if's" and "what about's" out of the way. No M3 driver cares. The bottom line is that the 335 CAN NOT DELIVER THE M EXPERIENCE.

As a bmw enthusiast we can not pinpoint one virtue that makes the BMW superior to it's rivals. Rather it's the entire experience that makes the BMW the winner. I love my 335i for what it is, but it will never be an M car.

The M3 satisfies all senses:

Sight: the M3 is sexy; its sleek. The power dome, flared wheel arches, and fender gills mean business.Sound: the heirarchy of engine notes: V6 (or I or whatever) Touch: the feel of the silky steering wheel and the effortless turn in.Smell: fine leather hides and burning PSSTaste: the taste of victory

Short and sweet; buy the M. The 335is is in nice, but at the end of the day the valet will move it to the "main lot" so that the M3 may sit our front.

Let's get the juvenile "what if's" and "what about's" out of the way. No M3 driver cares. The bottom line is that the 335 CAN NOT DELIVER THE M EXPERIENCE.

As a bmw enthusiast we can not pinpoint one virtue that makes the BMW superior to it's rivals. Rather it's the entire experience that makes the BMW the winner. I love my 335i for what it is, but it will never be an M car.

The M3 satisfies all senses:

Sight: the M3 is sexy; its sleek. The power dome, flared wheel arches, and fender gills mean business.Sound: the heirarchy of engine notes: V (or I or whatever),mekdkd 6 Touch: the feel of the silky steering wheel and the effortless turn in.Smell: fine leather hides and burning PSSTaste: the taste of victory

Short and sweet; buy the M. The 335is is in nice, but at the end of the day the valet will move it to the "main lot" so that the M3 may sit our front.

Had an E46 M3 though I loved it can't really say I miss it and yes the E92 M3 is a superior auto than the "IS" but the M is not for everyone dollars aside... This is why BMW offers choice.Let's try not to refer to the "is" as such an inferior machine shall we?? 2 very different auto's that's all.

Let's get the juvenile "what if's" and "what about's" out of the way. No M3 driver cares. The bottom line is that the 335 CAN NOT DELIVER THE M EXPERIENCE.

As a bmw enthusiast we can not pinpoint one virtue that makes the BMW superior to it's rivals. Rather it's the entire experience that makes the BMW the winner. I love my 335i for what it is, but it will never be an M car.

The M3 satisfies all senses:

Sight: the M3 is sexy; its sleek. The power dome, flared wheel arches, and fender gills mean business.Sound: the heirarchy of engine notes: V6 (or I or whatever) Touch: the feel of the silky steering wheel and the effortless turn in.Smell: fine leather hides and burning PSSTaste: the taste of victory

Short and sweet; buy the M. The 335is is in nice, but at the end of the day the valet will move it to the "main lot" so that the M3 may sit our front.

On the 335IS, everything on it says "M" (wheel, 6-speed shifter, wheels, door sills, suspension, etc). You can add a performance package and get the M experience with less money. I have seen a lot of people go this route.

On the 335IS, everything on it says "M" (wheel, 6-speed shifter, wheels, door sills, suspension, etc). You can add a performance package and get the M experience with less money. I have seen a lot of people go this route.

I like the M3, but there are better options...

Can't have nowhere near w/o major suspension surgery; replace all parts 'cept subframes & knuckles/carriers and you'll have about a M, manual adj. Oh, and add LSD w/PSS's.

M's pre-config'd for what I like, in fact except coilovers my suspension is M.

Over-boost well done - BMW did the R&D to make it right!

BMW must have changed their suspension or tuned it differently on my 2011 than on the previous years of the 335i? I'm not sure when they did this, but I have no complaints about a rough ride like Captain Audio and others experienced on earlier cars. This modification may have produced a bit of the uncertain feeling I get when I push the car around decent bends in the road. But, it's not bad handling by any means. The suspension is what I'll call more pliable and better able to handle most road conditions.

Let's get the juvenile "what if's" and "what about's" out of the way. No M3 driver cares. The bottom line is that the 335 CAN NOT DELIVER THE M EXPERIENCE.Taste: the taste of victory

Short and sweet; buy the M. The 335is is in nice, but at the end of the day the valet will move it to the "main lot" so that the M3 may sit our front.

The 335is delivers the 335is experience and it's a fun experience in it's own right. Trying to express a feeling a car gives you is difficult because of the many small things that make up the whole. The car handles great, has all of the usable power you need when you get on it, and it sounds fantastic. There are also fewer of them on the road than any other 3 Series and quite possibly any other modern BMW series.

BMW must have changed their suspension or tuned it differently on my 2011 than on the previous years of the 335i? I'm not sure when they did this, but I have no complaints about a rough ride like Captain Audio and others experienced on earlier cars. This modification may have produced a bit of the uncertain feeling I get when I push the car around decent bends in the road. But, it's not bad handling by any means. The suspension is what I'll call more pliable and better able to handle most road conditions.

BMW is good about refinement - they move on issues with the velocity o'turbocharged snails, eventually coming to a conclusion.

I think BMW did a good job on the suspension on my car, particularly when you consider I have the 19" wheels mated with ultra low profile run flat tires that look like rubber bands. I drove it down from PA to SE FL on I-95 South this summer and it was great on the highway. I didn't have any bump steer and I wasn't feeling beat up or exhausted like I did when I drove my ZO6 back up on my return trip.

The fact that the 335i suspension is able to drive well on the highway and also perform extremely well on the back roads is quite a feat, IMO.

It may not be as good as what is on the M3, but the M3 suspension should be better.

Out of curiosity, I went to BMW USA web site to look for a quick summary of the 335is, but didn't find a good quick overview of what makes an 'is' (and I could very well have missed it).

What does an is give you over a regular 335?

Personally, if you don't need an M car, the 335 (in whatever form) probably makes a better daily car...the mpg on an M makes for frequent fuel stops. I mean, not complaining about the cost, which is part and parcel of owning a V8, but sometimes you do wish for a larger fuel tank.

PS great thread, have learned a lot. Thanks especially to beden1 and calwaterboy, great posts.

__________________

“Character is doing the right thing when nobody’s looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that’s right is to get by, and the only thing that’s wrong is to get caught.”

Out of curiosity, I went to BMW USA web site to look for a quick summary of the 335is, but didn't find a good quick overview of what makes an 'is' (and I could very well have missed it).

What does an is give you over a regular 335?

Personally, if you don't need an M car, the 335 (in whatever form) probably makes a better daily car...the mpg on an M makes for frequent fuel stops. I mean, not complaining about the cost, which is part and parcel of owning a V8, but sometimes you do wish for a larger fuel tank.

Hi Guys and Girls. This is my first post on this site. I'm an active member of the Porsche forum called Rennlist. I'm in the process of selling my 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo that I have spent a ton building a new motor for. Dyno'd at over 400 rwhp. Anyhow, I love the car but the platform is almost 30 years old and I want something newer.

I had an 07 335i sedan when they first came out and aside from the HPFP problem, it was a great car.

I'm looking at either an 11 or 12 335is or an 08 or 09 M3. They are similar in price. I'd get the DCT because it'll be my daily driver and a traditional manual in metro Atlanta traffic isn't a good choice.

I know a ton about both cars, driven both cars, love both cars. I know there is more potential in the 335is for modifications but the M3 is just a sick car.

I'd like peoples thoughts on what they would do.

Thanks,
Chris

Adding more power to the DCT 335iS is easier and cheaper than the M3 DCT. You can always work on the 335iS suspension in making it better than the M3 stock or equivalent

As a DD the DCT 335iS would be more fun to drive because of the low end torque, and cheaper on gas.

Nothing is better than your own building something to your own liking which will have it own unique character cause you semi-built it

Let's get the juvenile "what if's" and "what about's" out of the way. No M3 driver cares. The bottom line is that the 335 CAN NOT DELIVER THE M EXPERIENCE.

As a bmw enthusiast we can not pinpoint one virtue that makes the BMW superior to it's rivals. Rather it's the entire experience that makes the BMW the winner. I love my 335i for what it is, but it will never be an M car.

The M3 satisfies all senses:

Sight: the M3 is sexy; its sleek. The power dome, flared wheel arches, and fender gills mean business.Sound: the heirarchy of engine notes: V6 (or I or whatever) Touch: the feel of the silky steering wheel and the effortless turn in.Smell: fine leather hides and burning PSSTaste: the taste of victory

Short and sweet; buy the M. The 335is is in nice, but at the end of the day the valet will move it to the "main lot" so that the M3 may sit our front.

Interesting list. I like my sleeper look a lot better then flares & side vents like a Ford Taurus. My exterior mods are all very subtle, smoked reflectors & side marker lights that complement the gray paint. Engine noise is a nice feature & the IS muffler system does a nice job. Smell if that's important to you I guess its nice but did not notice it during my M3 test drive weekend. Moving to the Taste of Victory I love my 6-0 against a collection of M3's.

Interesting thing is I have never challenged an M3 but they seem to see the IS logos & just have to put down the upstart. One V8 M3 driver after a few 40 to 110 runs in Mexico refused to believe that I did not have major engine modifications till he bought my some coffee, checked out the car & had a 100% stock down to the air cleaner engine compartment looking back at him. No CAI, no Meth, no Downpipes no nothing visable. The JB4 sits inside the ECU coffen with only the lap top connection showing.

BuraQs IS is about 1/2 second quicker then mine & with a good run should he get into the high 11 second range. As far as I know he has some basic mods but nothing as potent as a meth injection system. Taken into context at Drag Time he would be about number 24 on the M3 list right up with the $10K supercharger M3's & my JB4 + FMIC car would be number 44 out of 117 M3's listed

At the end of the day the thoughts of a parking valet are of no consequence to me & feel bad for someone who needs the validation of a car parker.

After experiencing what it's capable of @ LRP, sitting next to the one and only Simon Kirkby (thanks to CaptainAudio), coupled with the nice growl of the naturally-aspirated V8, I wouldn't even think twice about it. Some say it's too much of a street car and not enough race car, but if you'll undertake a fiscally-irresponsible purchase, you might as well go all the way. The looks alone are worth it. Just promise us that you'll drive it like it's meant to be driven, no babying it and whining over piling the miles!

After experiencing what it's capable of @ LRP, sitting next to the one and only Simon Kirkby (thanks to CaptainAudio), coupled with the nice growl of the naturally-aspirated V8, I wouldn't even think twice about it. Some say it's too much of a street car and not enough race car, but if you'll undertake a fiscally-irresponsible purchase, you might as well go all the way. The looks alone are worth it. Just promise us that you'll drive it like it's meant to be driven, no babying it and whining over piling the miles!